Lathe Machine Operations

Nowadays, the tool room work and workshop machine activities; are done by repairers or through suitable lathe tools. A lathe is a tool utilized to perform various functions like turning, cutting, drilling, grooving, knurling, parting, threading etc. They are used to produce accurate products made from metal, plastic, wood etc. The basic lathe machine operations are as follows:-

Turning is an essential and important lathe operation. It is used to create circular objects and for reducing the diameter of the work. Taper turning refers to the process where the tool narrowly cuts the job at a specific angle. Knurling is done using a knurling tool; it has two slashed lined wheels that are pressed against the rotating work piece to produce a knurled object.

The drilling operation uses a drilling tool which is held in the tail stock and fed into the work by using a handle on tailstock. Threading is a precise operation, where the tool is fed into the job at a constant speed. This is done by attaching a carriage assembly with lead screws that are connected to the driving mechanism through gear trains. Two types of threading are external and internal threading.

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Grooving is done before external threading by feeding the grooving tool perpendicular to the rotating work piece. Parting is done for cutting a work into smaller parts. Chamfering refers to slitting or cutting the edges of the object.

The major parts of a lathe machine are bed, headstock, saddle, tailstock, top slide; apron, cross slide, lead screw, countershaft, tool rest, chuck and gears. The bed is the base of a lathe, the chuck holds and spins the work piece; whereas the apron grips the gears, and the headstock allows the spindle to rotate at variable speeds. The tailstock holds the end of the work; and the carriage houses the cross slide, top slide and saddle.

Many types of lathes are available including the wood lathe. Here the cutting tool is operated manually by skilled workers to precisely form smooth curves and complex shapes on the work piece. The spindle is normally driven by a belt connected to the motor, and the speed can be varied manually. Lathe tools are held manually against the work, with the help of an adjustable tool rest; that is clamped to the base at a suitable position.

Engine lathes are machines with a longitudinal base, where the headstock and tailstock are mounted. It has an advanced spindle drive that runs at variable speeds; the selectable gears help to operate the machine at higher speeds. The lathe cutting tools are moved against the work using hand wheels; or automatically using a lead screw that is power driven by gears in the headstock. The carriage moves back and forth on the bed for longitudinal turning. The cross slide and compound rest are mounted above the carriage to enable cross and angular cutting.

Finally during any lathe machining operation, always take necessary precautions; even if you are an expert, or are handling an important process.

Lathe Machines – How They Make a Real Difference in Shaping Industries

The lathe is indeed a great invention and a very helpful machine, used for numerous purposes since the ancient times. The earliest type of lathe was the potter’s wheel, which is being utilized to shape clay pots and earthen objects even today. The lathe machine is basically a machine tool that revolves the work piece on its axis to carry out a variety of operations that includes cutting, shaping, turning, drilling, sanding, bending etc.

Types of Lathe Machines

An extensive range of lathe machines are now available in the market at affordable rates. Each type of lathe machine has remarkable features and specific engineering application, including shaping various kinds of materials. They can be used in several industrial functions such as wood shaping, metal bending, glass sanding, stone cutting, plastic drilling, repairing machine parts etc.

These lathes have truly made a major difference in the shaping industry due to its highly beneficial features and outstanding performance. Some of the most useful lathe machines designed and manufactured nowadays are as follows:

First is the v-belt drive lathe machine that includes light duty lathe machine used for shaping small size items and other bending tasks; the medium duty lathe machine has enhanced functionality to cast most accurate shapes; heavy duty lathe machines are robust equipments built for large scale metal working and wood working operations; extra heavy duty lathe machine have tight tolerances and are utilized to shape very hard substances.

Next is the roll turning lathe machine which is another sturdy machine tool, dedicated for finishing purposes and to produce cylindrical rolls in rolling mills. Further comes the all geared lathe machine that includes light duty all geared lathe machine, meant for relatively light activities; medium duty all geared lathe machine for moderate functionality; heavy duty all geared lathe machine for higher capacity lathe machining work; and extra heavy duty all geared lathe machine for applications in heavy industries.

Recently highly precise, imported all geared lathe machines are widely used. They easily provide smooth machining on solid sheet metals; and include light duty imported lathe machine and medium duty imported lathe machine. These uniquely designed lathes are very efficient; and perform the lathe functions with zero defects.

The latest models of lathe machines comprise of the heavy duty high speed lathe. They are versatile and function at a greater speed, and used for bulk manufacturing and solid machining work on sheet metals. Further is the extra heavy duty lathe with pedestal type bed and extra heavy duty lathe with planer type bed that have longer working life.

Even imported CNC lathe machines, manufactured as per international standards are available these days. Another advanced technology based lathes are flat bed CNC lathe, heavy duty flat bed CNC lathe and slant bed CNC lathe; that are reputed for accurate dimension and high tensile strength. All these lathe machines provide a significant return on investment; and are extensively used in tool rooms, power plants, ship building, paper mills, repairing shops, steel rolling mills, workshops, mining, oil, textile industries etc.